ELECTRICAL SAFETY RELATED WORK PRACTICES

WELCOME!

This sample program is provided to assist you as an employer in developing programs tailored to your own operation. We encourage you to copy, expand, modify and customize this sample as necessary to accomplish this goal. This document contains an overview/introduction to “ESRWP”, a sample written company policy, and a self-audit checklist.

We have included a section that deals with Buss Duct Switch removal and installation. You may or may not have such an installation, but you may also have other special types of work or installations that you would need to include as part of your customized program.

This document is provided as a compliance aid, but does not constitute a legal interpretation of OSHA Standards, nor does it replace the need to be familiar with, and follow, the actual OSHA Standards (including any North Carolina specific changes.) Though this document is intended to be consistent with OSHA Standards, if an area is considered by the reader to be inconsistent, the OSHA standard should be followed. Of course, we welcome your comments and feedback!

Remember: A written safety/health program is only effective if it is put into place!

An Overview of

Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices

(1910.331 – 1910.335)

  1. Safety-related work practices shall be employed to prevent electric shock or electrical contacts, when work is performed near or on equipment or circuits which are or may be energized. Live parts shall be de-energized before the employee works on them unless it can be established that de-energizing introduces additional or increased hazards or is not feasible due to design of equipment or operational limitations. If exposed live parts are not de-energized for the above reasons, other safety practices shall be used to protect employees. Only qualified persons may work on energized circuits or equipment. They shall be capable of working safely on energized circuits and be familiar with the proper use of special precautions, personal protective equipment, insulating and shielding materials, and insulated tools.
  1. Working on or near exposed de-energized parts.
  1. Application. This applies to work on exposed de-energized parts or near enough to them to expose employees to any electrical hazard present. Conductors and parts of electric equipment that have been de-energized but have not been locked out or tagged shall be treated as energized.
  1. Lockout and tagging. While any employee is exposed to contact with parts of fixed electric equipment or circuits which have been de-energized, the circuits shall be locked out or tagged or both.

Note: Lockout and tagging that comply with paragraphs (c) through (f) of 1910.147 (Lockout & Tagging Standard) will comply with these requirements provided:

  1. The procedures address electrical hazards
  2. Stored non-electrical energy that could re-energize electrical circuits shall be effectively blocked or relieved
  3. A qualified person shall use test equipment (volt-ohm meter, etc.) and shall verify that the circuit and equipment are de-energized. If the circuit is over 600 volts, the test equipment shall be checked for proper operation immediately before and immediately after this test.
  1. Procedures. These written procedures shall be available for inspection by employees and by the Commissioner of Labor or authorized representatives.
  1. De-energizing equipment. Safe procedures for de-energizing circuits and equipment shall be determined before circuits or equipment are de-energized.
  1. The circuits and equipment to be worked on shall be disconnected from all electric energy sources. Control circuit devices, such as push buttons, selector switches, and interlocks may not be used as the sole means for de-energizing circuits or equipment. Interlocks for electric equipment may not be used as a substitute for lockout and tagging procedures.
  1. Stored electric energy which might endanger personnel shall be released. Capacitors shall be discharged and high capacitance elements shall be short-circuited and grounded, if the stored electric energy might endanger personnel.
  1. Stored non-electrical energy in devices that could re-energize electric circuit parts shall be blocked or relieved so that the circuit parts could not be accidentally energized.
  1. Application of lock and tags.
  1. A lock and a tag shall be placed on each disconnecting means used to de-energize circuits and equipment on which work is to be performed, except as provided in paragraphs C and E below. The lock shall be attached so as to prevent persons from operating the disconnecting means unless they resort to undue force or the use of tools, (bolt cutter, etc.).

B.Each tag shall contain a statement prohibiting unauthorized operation of the disconnecting means and removal of the tag.

  1. If a lock cannot be applied, or tagging procedures will provide a level of safety equivalent to that obtained by the use of a lock, a tag may be used without a lock.
  1. A tag used without a lock, as permitted by paragraph C above, shall be supplemented by at least one additional safety measure that provides a level of safety equivalent to that obtained by the use of a lock. Examples of additional safety measures include the removal of a fuse, blocking a controlling switch, or opening an extra disconnect.
  1. A lock may be placed without a tag only under the following conditions:
  1. Only one circuit or piece of equipment is de-energizing, and
  2. The lockout period does not extend beyond the work shift, and
  3. Employees exposed to the hazards associated with re-energizing the circuit or equipment are familiar with this procedure.
  1. Verification of de-energizing condition: The requirements of this paragraph shall be met before any circuits or equipment can be worked as de-energizing.
  1. A qualified person shall operate the equipment controls or otherwise verify that the equipment cannot be restarted.
  1. A qualified person shall use test equipment (volt-ohm meter, etc.) to test the circuit elements and electrical parts of equipment to which employees will be exposed and shall verify that the circuit elements and equipment parts are de-energized. The test shall also determine if any energized condition exists as a result of inadvertently induced voltage or unrelated voltage back feed even though specific parts of the circuit have been de-energized and presumed to be safe. If the circuit to be tested is over 600 volts, the test equipment shall be checked for proper operation immediately before and immediately after this test.
  1. Re-energizing equipment. These requirements shall be met, in the order given, before circuits or equipment are re-energized, even temporarily.
  1. A qualified person shall conduct tests and visual inspections to verify that all tools, electrical jumpers, shorts, grounds, and other such devices have been removed, so that the circuits and equipment can be safety energized.
  1. Employees exposed to the hazards of re-energizing the circuit or equipment shall be warned to stay clear of circuits and equipment.
  1. Each lock and tag shall be removed by the employee who applied it or under his or her direct supervision. However, if this employee is absent from the workplace, then the lock or tag may be removed by a qualified person designated to perform this task provided that:
  1. The employer ensures that the employee who applied the lock or tag is not available at the workplace, and
  1. The employer ensures that the employee is aware that the lock or tag has been removed before he or she resumes work at that workplace.

D.There shall be a visual determination that all employees are clear of he circuits and equipment.

(COMPANY NAME)

Policy On

Safety-Related Work Practices

1910.331 through 1910.335

Scope

Safety-related work practices shall be employed by employees of ______to prevent electric shock or other injuries resulting from either direct or indirect electrical contact, when work is performed near or on equipment or circuits which are or may be energized. The specific safety-related work practices shall be consistent with the nature and extent of the associated electrical hazards. The content of this Electrical Safe Work Practice is as required in OSHA Subpart S (electrical) 29CFRl 910.331 through 29CFRl 910.335.

This program covers the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment which have not been placed in an electrically safe working condition and the installation/removalof main disconnect switches on bus ducts. Conductors and parts of electric equipment that have been de-energized but have not been locked out or tagged shall be treated as energized parts. Any machine or equipment which has not been shutdown per our lockout tagout procedures will notbe considered to be electrically safe.

Covered Employees

The provisions of these procedures cover electrical safety-related work practices for both qualified persons (those who have training in avoiding the electrical hazards of working on or near exposed-energized parts) and unqualified persons (those with little or no such training) working on, near, or with the following installations:

*Premises Wiring - Installations of electric conductors and equipment within or on buildings or other structures, and on other premises such as yards, parking, and other lots, and industrial substations.

*Wiring for Connections to Supply - Installations of conductors that connect to the supply of electricity.

*Other Wiring - Installations of other outside conductors on the premises.

*Optical Fiber Cable - Installations of optical fiber cable where such installations are made along with electric conductors.

*Bus Duct Switches - Installation and removal of Bus Duct Switches on energized busses.

Qualified persons (i.e., those permitted to work on or near exposed energized parts) shall, at a minimum, be trained in and familiar with the following:

1 .The skills and techniques necessary to distinguish exposed live parts from other parts of electric equipment.

2.The skills and techniques necessary to determine the nominal voltage of exposed live parts.

Training

The training requirements contained in this document apply to employees who face a risk

of shock that is not reduced to a safe level by the installation as required by the National

Electrical Code and 29CFRl910 Subpart S, Electrical. Listed below are employees who

may face such a risk and shall be trained:

  • Electrical and electronic engineers
  • Electrical and electronic technicians
  • Electricians
  • Mechanics and repairers
  • Welders
  • (Note: add other job titles as appropriate for your company)

1 .Other employees who also may reasonably be expected to face comparable risk of injury due to electric shock or other electrical hazards must also be trained.

2.Employees who are covered by the scope this policy, but who are not qualified persons shall also be trained in and familiar with any electrically related safety practices not specifically addressed but which are necessary for their safety.

3.The training required shall be of the classroom or on-the-job type (preferably both). The degree of training provided shall be determined by the risk to the employee.

Selection and Use of Work Practices

Safety-related work practices shall be used to prevent electric shock or other injuries

resulting from either direct or indirect electrical contacts, when work is performed near or

on equipment or circuits which are or may be energized. The specific safety-related work

practices shall be consistent with the nature and extent of the associated electrical hazards.

1.De-energized parts - Live parts to which an employee may be exposed shall be de-energized before the employee works on or near them, unless the employer can demonstrate that de-energizing introduces additional or increased hazards or is infeasible due to equipment design or operational limitations. Live parts that operate at less than 50 volt to ground need not be de-energized if there will not be increased exposure to electrical burns or to explosion due to electric arcs.

2.Energized Parts - If the exposed live parts are not de-energized, (i.e., for reasons of increased or additional hazards or infeasibility), other safety-related work practices shall be used to protect employees who may be exposed to the electrical hazards involved. Such work practices shall protect employees against contact with energized circuit parts directly with any part of their body or indirectly through some other conductive object. When working on energized parts, the appropriate PPE shall be used.

NOTE., Examples of work that may be performed on or near energized circuit parts because of infeasibility due to equipment design or operational limitations include testing of electric circuits that can only be performed with the circuit energized (troubleshooting) and work on circuits that form an integral part of a continuous industrial process that would otherwise need to be completely shut down in order to permit work on one circuit or piece of equipment.

Lockout and Tagout

While any employee is exposed to contact with parts of fixed electric equipment or circuits

which have been de-energized the circuits energizing the parts shall be locked out or tagged

or both in accordance with the requirements of this paragraph in the following order.

1 . Procedures shall be in place before equipment may be de-energized.

2.Circuits and equipment to be worked on shall be disconnected from all electrical energy sources.

3.Stored electrical energy, which poses a hazard to workers, shall be released.

4.Stored non-electrical energy in devices that could re-energize electric circuit parts shall be blocked or relieved to the extent that the circuit parts could not be accidentally energized by the device.

5.A lock and a tag shall be placed on each disconnecting means used to deenergize circuits and equipment on which work is to be performed, except as provided below.

6.Each tag shall contain a statement prohibiting unauthorized operation of the disconnecting means and removal of the tag.

7.If a lock cannot be applied, or if the employer can demonstrate that tagging procedures will provide a level of safety equivalent to that obtained by the use of a lock, a tag may be used without a lock.

8.A tag used without a lock as permitted above, shall be supplemented by at least one additional safety measure that provides a level of safety equivalent to that obtained by the use of a lock. Examples include the removal of an isolating circuit element, blocking of a controlling switch, or opening of an extra disconnecting device.

9.A lock may be placed without a tag only under the following conditions:

a.Only one circuit or piece of equipment is de-energized.

b.The lockout period does not extend beyond the work shift.

c.Employees exposed to the hazards associated with re-energizing the circuit or equipment are familiar with this procedure.

10.Before any circuits or equipment can be considered and worked as de-energized:

a.A qualified person shall operate the equipment operating controls or otherwise verify that the equipment cannot be restarted.

b.A qualified person shall use test equipment to test the circuit elements and electrical parts of equipment to which employees will be exposed and shall verify that the circuit elements and equipment parts are de-energized.

11.Before circuits and equipment are re-energized, even temporarily, the following requirements shall be met, in the order given:

a.A qualified person shall conduct tests and visual inspections, as necessary, to verify that all tools, electrical jumpers, shorts, grounds, and other such devices have been removed, so that the circuits and equipment can be safely energized.

b.Employees exposed to the hazards associated with re-energizing the circuit or equipment shall be warned to stay clear of circuits and equipment.

c.Each lock and tag shall be removed by the employee who applied it or under his or her direct supervision. However, if the employee is absent from the workplace, then the lock or tag may be removed by a qualified person designated to perform this task provided that the employer ensures that the employee who applied the lock or tag is not available at the workplace and is aware that the lock or tag has been removed before he or she resumes work at that workplace.

d.There shall be a visual determination that all employees are clear o the circuits and equipment.

Working On Or Near Energized Equipment

This section applies to work performed on exposed live parts (involving either direct

contact or contact by means of tools or materials) or near enough to them for employees to

be exposed to any hazard they present.

Only qualified persons may work on electric circuit parts or equipment that have not been

de-energized under the procedures of these standards. Such persons shall be capable of

working safely on energized circuits and shall be familiar with the proper use of special

precautionary techniques, personal protective equipment, insulating and shielding

materials, and insulated tools.

1 .Illumination - Employees may not enter spaces containing exposed energized parts, unless illumination is provided that enables the employees to perform the work safely.

  • Where lack of illumination or an obstruction precludes observation of the work to be performed, employees may not perform tasks near exposed energized parts. Employees may not reach blindly into areas which may contain energized parts.

2.Conductive Materials and Equipment - Conductive materials and equipment that are in contact with any part of an employee's body shall be handled in a manner that will prevent them from contacting exposed energized conductors or circuit parts. If an employee must handle long dimensional conductive objects (such as ducts or pipes) in areas with live parts, the hazard must be minimized by the use of insulation, guarding, or material handling techniques.

NOTE: Non-conductive fish tapes must be used when pulling wire through conduit that contains energized conductors or when entering an enclosure with exposed live parts.

3.Portable Ladders - Portable ladders shall be at the non-conductive type (wood or fiberglass) if they are used where the employee or the ladder could contact exposed energized parts.

4.Conductive apparel - Conductive articles of jewelry and clothing (such as bands, bracelets, rings, key chains, necklaces, metalized aprons, cloth with conductive thread, or metal headgear) may not be worn if they might contact exposed energized parts, unless they are rendered non-conductive by covering, wrapping, or other insulating means.